Thinkers

The Freakonomics blog at the NYTimes has a fun game:

The e-mail gods recently delivered this interesting query from a reader named Derek Wilhelm:

I go to the University of Richmond, which requires [us] to take a class called Core, where we read famous historical books. (Gandhi, Marx, Plato, Augustine, just to name a few). Anyway, my question for you is: Who do you think is the greatest modern-day thinker?

I love this question. It first requires you to define what a “thinker” is, and also raises the question of what incentives exist in the modern world to be a thinker. Also, is someone a great thinker if they’re never able to communicate their thoughts to a broad audience?

Its comments section has gems, such as Lil' Wayne, Yogi Berra, and Homer Simpson, and some more serious nominations--Foucalt, Chomsky, and Dawkins. See for yourself.

The definition, I think, is tougher than nominations. Any thoughts on either?

Link...

Btw this might be useful...

Economist Debate

Economist Debate on Corporate Social Responsibility

The Economist debate on corporate social responsibility opens today. Covering sensitive and sometimes contentious issues of environmentalism, corporate governance and profitability, this could prove to become a heated discussion.

The proposition: "This house believes that without outside pressure, corporations will not take meaningful action on sustainability."

Does this remind anyone of Milton Friedman's essay? I think that it could be fun for us to post in the debate- at least it would be fun for me. I'd be curious to see how we fare as well as see what you all think.

As a side note, it makes me sad that this blog has begun to fall into disuse. Many of you are going abroad next semester, and this is one of the few ways for me to stay in touch with you. I hope that you guys keep posting interesting thoughts and allow me to stay intellectually connected with you all. This debate- cough- would be one good opportunity.